The Egyptian Professional Clubs Association has announced the disciplinary decisions for the first round of the opening phase of the 2026-2027 Egyptian Premier League after reviewing the violations recorded during the first matches of the new campaign.
The sanctions included financial fines and suspensions in accordance with the competition regulations, the violations and sanctions regulations, and the quality-control system approved for the current season. The decisions are part of the association’s efforts to maintain discipline and ensure compliance both on and off the pitch. ⚽
The decisions involved several clubs, players and coaching staff. Some sanctions were related to relatively minor organizational violations, while others resulted from on-field conduct or failure to comply with media obligations after matches.
📢 Fines for Wadi Degla and ZED
The match between Wadi Degla and ZED FC resulted in a EGP 10,000 fine for each team.
The sanctions were imposed because both teams were late returning to the pitch before the start of the second half, which was considered a violation of the regulations governing match organization.
Such sanctions are intended to ensure compliance with the scheduled match timings, particularly because delays in restarting games can affect the overall running of fixtures and television broadcasting schedules.
💰 Fine for Abu Qir Over Delay
In the match between Abu Qir and National Bank of Egypt, the association imposed a EGP 10,000 fine on Abu Qir.
The decision was also related to the team’s failure to return to the pitch on time before the beginning of the second half.
The decision reflects the association’s strict approach toward enforcing organizational regulations from the opening rounds of the season in an attempt to prevent similar violations in future matches.
🟥 Two-Match Suspension for Canal Player
The match between Ceramica Cleopatra and Canal produced a more serious disciplinary decision, with the association suspending Momen Ahmed Mohamed, a Canal player, for two matches.
The player was also fined EGP 5,000 after receiving a red card for violent play.
The suspension will prevent him from featuring in Canal’s next two matches, representing a technical setback for the club. The absence of any player through suspension can force the coaching staff to reorganize its plans and identify an appropriate replacement. 🔥
⭐ Fine for Achraf Bencharki
The match between Al Ahly and Eastern Company ENPPI also resulted in a disciplinary decision involving Achraf Bencharki.
The Al Ahly player was fined EGP 30,000 for failing to conduct a television interview after receiving the Player of the Match award.
The sanction highlights the importance of complying with media obligations surrounding league fixtures, particularly when players receive individual awards and are expected to participate in the designated post-match interviews under the competition’s regulations.
📛 Four-Match Suspension for Eastern Company ENPPI Coach
The most significant sanction of the opening round was imposed on Mohamed Essam Hussein, head coach of Eastern Company ENPPI.
The association decided to ban him from accompanying his team for four matches and also imposed a EGP 20,000 fine for using inappropriate and offensive language toward the match referee.
The suspension means the coach will be absent from the bench for four upcoming matches, forcing the team’s technical and administrative staff to manage the next stage without him in the technical area. 📢
🏆 Association Emphasizes Discipline
The decisions at the beginning of the season underline the Egyptian Professional Clubs Association’s intention to enforce the regulations across all clubs, whether the violation involves delays in returning to the pitch, conduct during matches or media obligations.
The association also applied Article 54 of the ORA League Regulations for the 2026-2027 season, concerning warnings issued to coaching, administrative and medical staff as well as players.
As the league continues, compliance with the regulations is expected to become increasingly important, particularly as competition intensifies and clubs seek to avoid losing players through suspensions or paying financial fines that could otherwise be prevented through proper adherence to the rules.
The first-round sanctions also provide clubs with an opportunity to review player conduct, coaching behavior and internal organizational procedures. With the season still in its early stages, avoiding disciplinary mistakes could become an important factor during a long campaign filled with demanding fixtures.
Do you believe the opening-round sanctions were appropriate for the violations committed by the clubs, players and coaching staff? Do you expect disciplinary penalties to increase as competition becomes more intense in the coming rounds? Share your opinion and predictions. 🏆🔥
